Novak Djokovic (Photo : Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic will be the only member of the "Big Four" competing at the Rogers Cup in Toronto next week after his career rivals pulled out of the tournament in preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics in August.
Djokovic appears as the heavy favorite to win in Toronto, with Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all skipping the ATP 1000 Masters event as all three prepares for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil next month. With his career rivals out of the competition, the Serb becomes the prohibitive favorite to win the tournament and bounce back from a disappointing exit at Wimbledon a few weeks ago.
Djokovic has had a tremendous start this year capped by his first ever French Open title that also earned him his first career Grand Slam. The Belgrade native was in pole position to swing for the fence and go for a calendar sweep and a Golden Slam by winning the remaining Grand Slam events and the Olympics, but a disappointing loss to American Sam Querrey ended any of his hopes to achieve rare feats.
Unlike Federer, Murray and Nadal, Djokovic would attempt to test his form in Toronto ahead of the more important events in the Serb's schedule. But it is likely the 12-time Grand Slam winner will focus at the Rio Olympics, admitting earlier this year that winning a Gold Medal at the event would be the priority of 2016.
"It's definitely right up there at the top of the priorities of this season," Djokovic told the Daily Telegraph.
"I have already had the very unique experience of representing my country at the Olympics. I was part of two Games, in Beijing and London. And with the way the last couple of seasons have gone for me, I feel I can do very well in Rio."
At the Rogers Cup, Djokovic gets a chance to quickly realign his upward trend in the tennis scene and restore some of his momentum ahead of the Rio Olympics. Djokovic has already started his preparations for the Rogers Cup and the American hard court season, but any of his training won't do much unless he competes with the same level of urgency to be one of the greatest to play the sport.
